The following information will focus on the two substances forensic scientist use to identify and compare matter, whether a material is organic or inorganic. Evidence that will be used in a court trial will depend on the examination that forensic scientist processed in the laboratory. The importance of distinguishing between organic and inorganic material is a necessary step in the criminal justice process. The differences between organic and inorganic will be explained first, next will be to explain the strengths and weaknesses of each, and finally the significance of both as it relates to the justice system. Also, we will focus on soil as it relates to how specific evidence is used in each instance. Now let’s begin by listing the differences. The organic substance is composed of carbon and commonly in combination with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, phosphorus, or other elements (Sanferstein, 2011, Pg 123). Inorganic substances are a compound not based on carbon or it can encompass other known chemicals. In order to classify both compounds they must be classified according to what physical form it takes. Saferstein lists the three forms that fall under: solid, liquid, and gas. “A solid is rigid and therefore has a definite shape and volume. A liquid also occupies a specific volume, but its fluidity causes it to take the shape of the container in which it is residing. A gas has neither a definite shape nor volume, and it will completely fill any container into which it is place” (2011, Pg. 120). Chromatography, spectrophotometry, and mass spectrometry are used to identify or compare organic materials. As explained by Saferstein “Chromatography is a means of separating and tentatively identifying the components of a mixtur... ... middle of paper ... ...ively place the suspect or perpetrator behind bars. Analyzing soil compounds can be measured by the levels of organic molecules including n-alkanes, fatty alcohols and fatty acids, which are all found in the waxy outer layer of plant matter (Geddes, 2008). It basically states that compounds can remain in the soil for thousands of years, which explains that each area being tested has its unique organic profile. Works Cited Geddes, L. (2008). Soil organics pin crime scene to particular flowerbed. New Scientist, 199 (2666), 11. Retrieved July 3, 2011from EBSCOhost. Goodpaster JV, Liszewski EA. Forensic analysis of dyed textile fibers. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2009Aug; 394(8):2009-18. Epub 2009 Jun 20. Review, PubMed PMID: 19543886. Saferstein, R. (2011). Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science (10th Ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Forensic Science Introduction: Someone in a restaurant has suddenly fallen ill and a mystery powder has been discovered with the victim. As the chief investigator, your duty is to identify the mystery substance through a lab. In this lab, it will consist of five known compounds and one unknown compound. Your job is to distinguish which one out of the five substances is the mystery powder. To figure out the mystery matter you will have to compare their physical and chemical properties and match them with the appropriate compound.
Not to mention the precautionary measures believed to be taken by Casey Anthony to conceal the decomposition of Caylee that is believed to have occurred in the trunk of her car with the inclusion of a bag of decomposing trash.. Precautionary acts as defined by Turvey, are meant to hamper or defeat investigative or forensic efforts (Turvey, 2012). Although a verdict of not guilty on the accounts of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and aggravated manslaughter of a child was rendered in the capital murder trial of Casey Anthony, cutting edge forensic evidence based off of the odor-analysis technique identified 41 compounds out of 424 compounds that are associated with decomposition. Furthermore, FBI laboratory results annotated that 67% of the compounds found in the air of the trunk were associated with human decomposition and not of decomposing garbage. In conjunction with the air samples, insects associated with decaying matter were identified but they too can be associated with human garbage. Therefore, the actually presence of insects does not confirm presence of decomposition in the trunk. Lastly, A stained paper towel was found with the characteristic for adipocere. Adipocere is the breakdown of fat by water in an oxygen-deprived environment. The association of the adipocere profile to human fat was too disputed as fatty acids found in the trash may have been the contributor. (Crime Museum,
Organic products and non-organic products have been a subject of interest for me for a great amount of time because I have often questioned whether there really was a difference between the two types of products. I always wondered what the nutritional, economic, laborious, and pollution differences were, if any, in the creation of the two types of products. Through research, I have found several sources of information which allow me to determine more than a physical difference between the two.
Therefore, the criminal justice system relies on other nonscientific means that are not accepted or clear. Many of forensic methods have implemented in research when looking for evidence, but the methods that are not scientific and have little or anything to do with science. The result of false evidence by other means leads to false testimony by a forensic analyst. Another issue with forensic errors is that it is a challenge to find a defense expert (Giannelli, 2011). Defense experts are required to help the defense attorneys defend and breakdown all of the doubts in the prosecutors scientific findings in criminal cases. Scientific information is integral in a criminal prosecution, and a defense attorney needs to have an expert to assist he/she in discrediting the prosecution (Giannelli,
Crime scenes are known to have many clues left behind. The obvious would be a the body or bodies, clothing, and sometimes even the murder weapon. While these are great way to solve a case there's another kind of evidence; trace evidence. Trace evidence are small pieces of evidence that are laying around a crime scene. There are many types of trace evidence some of them include metal filings, plastic fragments, gunshot residue, glass fragments, feathers, food stains, building materials, lubricants, fingernail scrapings, pollens and spores, cosmetics, chemicals, paper fibers and sawdust, human and animal hairs, plant and vegetable fibers, blood and other body fluids, asphalt or tar, vegetable fats and oils, dusts and other airborne particles, insulation, textile fibers, soot, soils and mineral grains, and explosive residues. Although these are the most common found elements, they are not the only ones. The Trace Evidence Unit is known to examine the largest variety of evidence types and used the biggest range of analytical methods of any unit. materials are compared with standards or knowns samples to determine whether or not they share any common characteristics. In this paper I will discuss the different kinds of trace evidence and how crime scene investigaros use it to solve cases and convict criminal.
Forensic toxicology is one of the oldest disciplines in forensic science history and dates back hundreds of years. However, the actual understanding and examination of forensic toxicology only dates back for about 200 years. Due to the development of technology, this discipline has been able to progress and flourish. The term forensic toxicology is defined as examination of all aspects of toxicity that may have legal implications (James & Nordby, 2009 p. 61).
With the world’s population continuing to increase, the demand for food is higher than ever. This increase in food demand also calls for more efficient ways of growing and providing the food. Two methods that are very controversial are the organic and conventional method. While many people support the organic method because of its known benefits, others feel that it is an over inflated industry that cheats consumers out of their money. But recently many studies have disproved those critics. These studies prove that Organic food is a better choice than conventional because it is better for the environment, avoids the use of chemicals, and is generally more beneficial.
organic compounds (ex. sugar) contain carbon,hydrogen, and oxygen atoms that are linked together to form a chain. Anything that is natural (from nature ie; mentioned elements) are organic.
In the field of forensic science, chemistry is used to analyse bodies and crime scenes to find out unknown substances and to match them up with known substances. The evidence that is predominantly analysed is drugs, bodily fluids, trace evidence (evidence that occurs in very small portions) and pattern evidence (evidence such as footprints, tyre treads and fingerprints). Chemistry is utilised in this field to uncover physical evidence and discover who has done what. Microscopes and chemical analysis procedures help chemists to understand what substances have been used and how. A key aspect of chemistry in forensics is looking at blood and matching it up with DNA or comparing the amounts of blood to
What are organic compounds, you may ask? Well organic compounds are compounds that always contain carbon, or any compound that contains a carbon atom. But some describe organic compounds as any of a large class of chemical compounds in which one or more atoms of carbon are covalently linked to atoms of other elements, most commonly are hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. But there are a few exceptions to this organic rule, which are carbon monoxide, carbonates, carbon dioxide, cyanides, cyanates, carbides, and thyocyanates, which are all considered inorganic. The term organic compound comes from the early notation that organic compounds could only be synthesized in living organisms through vis-vitalis (a life-force).
In the case of Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing, the primary evidence used to convict him of the crime was not the residue found on the barrels, as that evidence was brought into question (147). Some people were concerned that the chemical traces found on the perpetrator's clothing might have come from sources unrelated to explosives (147). However, persecutors were still able to convict McVeigh through the axle of a rental truck, found in the debris, which a subsequent search linked to McVeigh, after a motel owner told police a man with his description driving a similar van had stayed at his establishment (147). Trains of investigation such as this one demonstrate the similarity of investigating explosives cases with investigations of more mundane crimes. In cases involving explosions, standard methods of investigation often prove just as valuable as advanced chemical analysis of explosive
As far back as 1832, James Marsh was the first to use forensics at trial to give evidence as a chemist in 1832. Since that time forensic science and evidence has come a long way in various ways and technology to help in determine if the suspect is guilt or not, through such things as DNA testing, blood, and fingerprints. The first forensic police crime lab was created in 1910. The contributions of Dr. Edmond Locard, a French scientist and criminologist, proposed that “everything leaves a trace”. This principle is still valid today as it was so many years ago. No matter how small, the specialized trained technicians and investigators can take these methods and go to a crime scene to get evidence. “Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.” (Office of Justice, 2017) These different sciences can help achieve and assist in solving a case. Forensic science has also the ability to prove that a crime was committed, it can find the elements of the crime, it can help place the suspect at the scene and whether the suspect had any contact with the victim. However, in the last several years the techniques and with the use of technology the evidence that forensic science uncovers can also exonerate an innocent individual who has been falsely accused of the
The word organic is origin from ‘bio’ expressing mode of living (Essoussi & Zahaf, 2008). ‘Organic’ involved fruits and vegetables and exclude other such as meat (Padel S. F., 2005). Usually, cereals, vegetables, fruits, milks, and meat are considered as organic food products (Chinnici, D’Amico, & Pecorino, A multivariate statistical analysis on the consumers of organic products, 2002).
However once a body is buried, the local flora and fauna can also impact the condition in which the remains are found. Roots of plants may modify bone surface by leaving their imprints, known as etching on the bone. This etching is the result of humic acid, which is produced from either fungus on decaying roots or the roots themselves (Lyman, 1994:375). Plant roots are also capable of destroying bone by increasing the porosity or even splitting them apart (Denys, 2002:478). Some plants in particular thistles, have long extensive roots, which have been observed causing skeletal remains to fragment (Littleton, et al., 2012:3368). Small animals have the ability to burrow, disturb, remove, and even destroy bone. When bone is gnawed upon, it becomes more vulnerable to degradation (Brain, 1980:108-109; Denys, 2002:478; Hamre, 2013:3; Lyman, 1994:193-194). When these particular taphonomic processes are realized, inferences of a burial site may alter.
Forensic anthropology has been around since the early 1900’s. Over time, it has developed into a much more advanced and important field of science. Advancements have been made in forensic anthropology, which have allowed scientists to discover more information about the past, adjust to changes in society and the way that people live, and discover new technologies that will make forensic anthropologists jobs more efficient.